Family raising money to return belongings of Irishman who drowned in Canada
More than €4,000 has been raised to help the grieving family of a Tyrone man who died in Canada last month cover the costs of bringing his belongings home.
The GoFundMe page was set up after Stuart Doonan, from Drumquin, drowned on June 10.
The 30-year-old got into difficulty in water near his accommodation in Montreal and will be laid to rest today.
A service of thanksgiving for Stuart's life will be held in Drumquin Presbyterian Church at 2pm followed by committal in the adjoining graveyard.
Stuart Doonan. (Image: Armstrong Funeral Directors)
News in 90 Seconds - Monday July 14th
His devastated sister Stacey remembered her brother as 'the heart and soul of the family' on the online fundraising page which has received over €4,300 in donations.
'We are grateful for all the invaluable help and support we are receiving in getting Stuart home from the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust, we now face the challenge of bringing his belongings home,' she said.
'We have to navigate the process of getting his personal belongings home as he lived in Montreal for four years.
'We would appreciate any support in doing this.'
The family has raised around 95% of the original target amount and has promised that any money left over will be donated to the charity that helps families repatriate the remains of loved ones who died abroad.
'Excess funds will be going to the Kevin Bell Repatriation Trust (Newry) who have and continue to be a great support to the family,' Stacey said.
The trust was set up by the parents of Newry man Kevin Bell, who died in New York in 2013, and has assisted over 1,700 families.
The charity covers many of the practicalities involved in repatriation, from liaising with funeral directors overseas to ensuring all necessary documentation is in place, easing some of the burden on loved ones during an already traumatic time.
Tributes poured in online from those who knew Stuart both at home and in Canada.
Friends remembered him as a warm, kind, and generous young man who loved life and made a lasting impression on everyone who encountered him.
Leeds-based music promoter Bad Owl Presents paid an emotional tribute to the one-time regular at their events before 'he recently moved away to follow his dream of living and working in Canada'.
'He brought an excitement and passion to our shows, was a huge advocate of the scene and always had a daft story to regale to us in between bands,' they posted online.
'He will be very much missed and our thoughts go out to his friends and his family.'
A death notice described Stuart as a 'dearly beloved son of David and Carol' and 'a devoted brother of Clara (John), Stacey (Will) and the late baby Andrew'.
'A much-loved grandson of Robert and the late Florence and the late Tommy and Jennifer. A dear nephew and cousin,' it added.
The fundraising campaign remains open as relatives and friends prepare to pay their respects to Stuart.
'We are devastated about the circumstances surrounding his passing,' Stacey said. 'Stuart was full of life and full of love, the heart and soul of our family and he will be sorely missed by us all.
'Stuart loved his life in Montreal and saw a future there.'
See www.gofundme.com/f/stuart-doonan
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